Skip the take out and make this super easy, creamy butter chicken right in your slow cooker or crock pot! This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe is loaded with a few surprises for a tasty twist on a very popular Indian dish.

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Servings:1 Â½ cups

Yield:6-8 servings

Prep Time:20 hr

Cooking Time:4 hr

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

4 tablespoons cornstarch

Â½ teaspoon kosher salt

Â½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 Â½ cups chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons ground turmeric

2 tablespoons garam masala

2 tablespoons ground cumin

Â½ tablespoon ground cayenne pepper

8 ounces canned tomato sauce

3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely minced

1 Â½ cups cubed butternut squash

Â¾ cup golden raisins

3 serrano or jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced

2 cups chicken stock

1 Â½ cups half and half

1 Â½ cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach

fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish

Preparation

In a large skillet (or your stovetop proof slow cooker insert), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, cornstarch, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Toss to coat the chicken completely. Cooking in batches, add the chicken to the skillet and brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat and add the onion to the pan. Cook the onion until softened and then stir in the garlic. Cook for one minute longer.

Transfer the chicken and onion mixture to the slow cooker.

In a small bowl, whisk together the turmeric, garam masala, cumin, cayenne pepper, tomato sauce and ginger. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Add the squash, raisins, chicken stock, cinnamon stick and peppers to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Ten minutes prior to serving, stir in the half and half and spinach. Serve with rice and chopped cilantro, if desired.